Dehorning device



Feb. 22, 1955 s. s. MIMS DEHORNING DEVICE Original Filed April 26, 1950FIG 5 ..M "M M .wm WA E T s L E U .M A S BY dfd FIG 3 ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent DEHORNING DEVICE Samuel S. Mims, Washington, D. C.,assignor of onethird to Lykes M. Boykin, Alexandria, Va.

Original No. 2,582,450, dated January '15, 1952, Serial No. 158,203,April 26, 1950. Application for reissue September 11, 1953, Serial No.379,749

8 Claims. (Cl. 128-303.1)

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent butforms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italicsindicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to a dehorning device, and more particularly to acauterizing device for simplifying the dehorning of cattle and otherlivestock.

Previously in order to dehorn livestock by destroying the horn cells atthe base of the horn button on these animals a caustic stick was wettedand rubbed on the horn button or a caustic paste was applied to the hornbutton when the animal was quite young, say from two to four weeks old;and more recently apparatus has been devised for destroying the horncells by heat, an example of such apparatus being shown in my co-pendingapplication, Ser. No. 125,321, filed November 3, 1949, and now PatentNo. 2,569,250 dated September 25, 1951. In attempting to use heat,difficulty has been experienced in adapting means for heating thedehorning device that would be safe, convenient and always available.Burning charcoal is neither safe or convenient, and electricity is notalways available, particularly out on the range.

It is an object of my present invention to provide a [dehorning]cauterizing device which is chemically heated.

Another object of my ing device which is adapted to be heated by areplaceable chemical cartridge.

Another object of my invention is to provide a dehorning device having acylindrical tip which is quickly and easily interchangeable with tips ofvarious sizes to accommodate animals having horns of various sizes.

Another object of my invention is to provide a dehorning device with animproved shield for protecting the operator and retaining the heat inthe desired portions of the device.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will beapparent from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation illustrating an my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment chosen for illustration, a hollow handle is providedwith a barrel or elongated connecting member 11 extending from one endthereof and upon the outer end of which is mounted a combustion chamberbase 12 comprising radially extending wall means. The base 12 isinternally threaded at 13 to receive a combustion chamber extension 14which is externally threaded at 15 for removable attachment to thethreaded portion of the combustion chamber base 12. When the extension14 is attached to the base 12 they form a hollow cylindrical combustionchamber for the reception of an hermetically sealed heating charge 16which liberates heat, but substantially no gas, when fired. The chamberis defined by a cylindrical peripheral wall and end walls which aresubstantially perpendicular to such peripheral wall. An example of sucha heating charge is shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,500,790, issued March14, 1950.

A movable plunger rod 17 is mounted in the barrel 11 and carries on oneend thereof a firing pin 18 which exembodiment of tends into thecombustion chamber and is arranged to invention is to provide a dehorn-"ice detonate the percussion primer (not shown) in the end of theheating charge 16 for igniting the same. The rod 17 extends through thehandle 10 and has an enlarged grip portion 19 on the end opposite thefiring pin 18. A coil spring 20 surrounds an intermediate portion of therod 17 within the handle 10 and presses against the collar 21, fixed tothe rod 17, to urge the firing pin toward the combustion chamber.

Fixed to the outer end of the combustion chamber extension 14 at the endwall thereof is a protruding tip 22 of cylindrical shape and having arecess or opening 23 at its outer end to receive the horn button, thetip comprising an open annulus raised from the surface of the end wall,the depth and diameter of the opening 23 being proportioned according tothe size of the horn button and the rim of the head surrounding theopening 23 being of sufiicient thickness to supply a branding area whichwill reach all the horn cells embedded around and near the base of thehorn button, and which, when heated to a temperature of about 670degrees F. is sufiicient to destroy the horn cells.

A split collar 24 is rigidly attached to the barrel 11 intermediate thehandle 10 and the combustion chamber base 12, the split halves beingsecured together and in place on the barrel by means of through-bolts25, 25. The collar 24 is externally threaded at 26 to receive aninternally threaded cylindrical shield 27 which is radially spaced fromthe combustion chamber base 12 and the combustion chamber extension 14,and overhangs the combustion chamber to provide a protection for theoperator against accidental burns while at the same time defining an airspace for retaining heat in the combustion chamber extension forconduction to the tip 22. Also, the air space provided between theshield 27 and the combustion chamber will prevent oxidation and aconsequent forming of carbon on the tip 22 which may be formed of copperor bronze or other material of high heat conductivity. The shield 27 maybe formed of aluminum or other suitable light weight material, and thehandle 10 should be formed of wood or other suitable material of lowheat conductivity.

Having selected a combustion chamber extension with a tip of suitabledimensions for receiving the horn button of the animal to be dehorned, aheating charge is placed in the combustion chamber extension and thesame screwed in place on the combustion chamber base. The device is thenready for use, and with the animal to be dehorned caught and held, theplunger rod is pulled back by the grip 19 against the action of spring20 and released to drive the firing pin 18 to detonate the percussionprimer of the heating charge 16. The heating charge in the combustionchamber will then quickly heat the dehorning tip 22 to a temperature ofabout 670 degrees F. which is sufficient to destroy the horn cells whenthe tip is pressed about the horn button so that it is received withinthe opening 23 in the free end of the dehorning tip. When the heat fromthe charge has been dissipated, the combustion chamber extension can beunscrewed from the base and another charge easily inserted in thecombination chamber.

It will'be obvious that my invention provides a needed article of greatconvenience and usefulness, and that while I have illustrated anddescribed only a single embodiment thereof various changes andadaptations may be made without departing from the scope of my inventionas defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a dehorning device, a barrel, a hollow handle mounted on one endof said barrel, a combustion chamber base secured to the other end ofsaid barrel, a combustion chamber extension constructed and arranged forremovable connection with said combustion chamber base to form acombustion chamber to receive a combustible heating charge, a plungermounted for reciprocating movement in said barrel, one end of saidplunger extending outwardly from the end of said handle farthest fromsaid combustion chamber base, a firing pin on the other end of saidplunger, an hermetically sealed heating charge in said combustionchamber, said heating charge having a percussion primer arranged fordetonation by said firing pin, a dehorning tip on said combustionchamber exten- Reissued Feb. 22,1955 v sion, said tip being ofcylindrical shape and having a re- 5. In a dehorning device, anintermediate portion, a cess at its outer end to receive a horn button,a split collar handle mounted on one end of said intermediate poron saidbarrel intermediate said handle and said combustion, a combustionchamber base secured to the other tion chamber base, and a cylindricalshield attached to said end of said intermediate portion, a combustionchamber collar and extending over said combustion chamber, said 5extension removably connected to said combustion chamsh-ield beingradially spaced from said combustion chamber base to form a combustionchamber to receive a ber. combustible heating charge, a heating chargein said 2. In a dehorning device, a barrel, a hollow handle combustionchamber, means for igniting said heating mounted on one end of saidbarrel, a combustion chamcharge, a dehorning tip on said combustionchamber exb'er base secured to the other end of said barrel, acomtension, said tip having a recess at its outer end to rebustionchamber extension constructed and arranged for ceive a horn button, anda cylindrical shield extending removable connection with said combustionchamber about said combustion chamber in radially spaced rebase to forma combustion chamber to receive a comlationship thereto. bustible'heating charge, a plunger mounted for recipro- 6. In a dehorniug device,a connecting member, a eating movement in said barrel, a firing pin onsaid handle mounted on one end of said member, a complunger, anhermetically sealed heating charge in said bustion chamber base securedto the other end of said combustion chamber, said heating charge havinga member, acombustion chamber extension removably conpercussion primerarranged for detonation by said" firing ncctcd to said combustionchamber base to form a compin, a dehorn ing tip on said combustionchamber exbustion chamber to receive'a combustible heating charge,tension, said tip being of cylindrical shape and having a dehorning tipon said combustion chamber extension, a recess at its outer end toreceive a horn button, a split Said p having E1 recess t0 Tficeive abutton, and a collar on said barrel intermediate aid handl and aidshield surrounding said combustion chamber, said shield combustionchamber base, and a cylindrical shield at being radially spaced fromsaid combustion chamber. tached to said collar and overhanging saidcombustion 7. In a dehorning device, an elongated connecting chamber,said shield being radially spaced from said m a handle mounted Oil end fmid combustion chamber. ber, radially extending wall means mounted onthe other 3. In a dehorning device, a barrel, a handle mounted cm] Saidmember, Combustion Chamber forming on one end of said bariel, acombustion chamber base means r m v y mounted on said w means, saidsecured to the other end of sa d barrel, a omb t on wail means and andcombustion chamber forming means chamber extension constructed andarranged for removdefining a Cylindrical Chamber having a cylindrical Pable connection with said combustion chamber base to rip/16ml Wall andend Substantially Perpendicular form a COmbUSUOH chamber to receive acombustible thereto f receiving a combustible hearing g n heatingcharge, a plunger mounted for reciprocating dehoml-ng P Carried y SaidEnd Walls, Said movement 1n said barrel, a firing P111 on said plunger,an dehommg comprising an fl'mlUll-Y Famed f the herrnetically sealedheating charge in said combustion 3 f mld one end Wall and defining a710m button chamber, said heating charge having a percussion prlmerceiviflg recess in Said dehoming P' arranged for detonation by saidfiring pin, a dehorning Jn a mulerizing device, a handle, a firstCombustip on said combustion chamber extension, said tip being rionchamber l means, means connecting s h n of cylindrical shape and havinga recess at it outer to said first combustion chamber wall means, asecond end to receive a horn button, a split collar on said barrel 4t,combusiion Chamber Wall means removably attached 10 intermediate saidhandle and said combustion chamber mid fi Combustion Chamber Wall meansand defining base, and a cyhndncal h eld tta h d t d ll therewith asubstantially closed combustion chamber for and extending about saidcombustlon chamber and receiving a combustible Charge movable means ffiring radially spaced th refrom such charge, said movable means beingarranged to pass 4. In a dehorning device, a barrel, a handle mountedthrough one f Said Wall means during firing, and (I on one end of saidbarrel, a combustion chamber base Callieriling element Carried y one fSaid Wall means, secured to the other end of said barrel, a combustionSaid element comprising P annulus defillmg a chamber extensionconstructed and arranged for remov- CBSS in mid 8187116711" ableconnection with said combustion chamber base to fiorm a combustionchamber to receive a combustible :30 References Cited 1 t file of thisPatent heating charge, a heating charge in said combustion or the011811131 Patent chamber, said heating charge having a percussion primer1arranged for getonation, a dehorning tip on said com- UNITED STATESPATENTS ustion cram er extension, said tip having a recess at its outerend to receive a horn button, and a cylindrical Bula 1925 Roberts June11, 1935 shield attached to said barrel and extending about said 2,288464 Kitchener June, 30 1942 wmbustmn chamber in radially spacedrelationship 2,589, 509 Petraglia -IIIIIII: Mar. 18: 1952 thereto.

